Free or Cheap Things to Do This Summer

Summer time is here! That typically means you have more free time than you normally would. The sun stays out longer, and summer activities are abundant! To help you stick with your budget but still enjoy your summer, I have compiled a list of activities that are free or very cheap! Let me know what you think below!

Park

Parks are so much fun because they cost you nothing and have so many ways to entertain yourself. There are playgrounds for children, swing sets for everyone, and trails to walk or bike.

Biking

The only cost to biking, is an initial purchase cost. My husband bought his bike several years ago and we share it for now (due to his odd work hours). This way we get to bike out doors for no cost now and the use we have put into the bike have more than made up for the initial expense.

Hiking

Do some research and find the best places to hike in your area. There are always pathways or trails to be found. Some even have fantastic views or rocks you can climb. It’s a great way to be outdoors, be active, and not spend any money.

Museum

In major cities, odds are the museums in the area are free. I am fortunate enough to live in a major metropolitan city and all but two of our museums here are free. This is a great activity to do with the family, or friends. It’s educational, entertaining, and often interactive.

Library

City Events

This is another area where you need to do a bit of research, but many areas have free local events such as festivals, celebrations, parades, outdoor movies, etc. See what you can find and hopefully experience something new in the process!

Fairs

Summer is the season for fairs to appear! Some fairs have no entry charge, so you can spend time watching the free shows, or just enjoying the atmosphere. One of the local fairs we love to go to has a petting zoo for kids, pig races, and fun entertainment shows that are completely free of charge! If you want to purchase some carnival food or ride a ride, just be sure to budget accordingly and look for the cheapest day to go! Some fairs have days that will give you discounted tickets if you bring canned food items or something similar to that.

Grill Out

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love to eat food fresh from the grill! You don’t even have to own or purchase a grill to have a BBQ! Many parks have grilling stations you can use free of charge!

Concerts

Summertime is also a time for outdoor concerts! So many areas have local bands or artists who are willing to give a free show to make a name for themselves. This is a great way to spend an evening or a weekend without spending any money!

Lake/River

Spend a day at the lake or a river! You can go fishing, tubing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating (depending on what you own or who you know that owns one of these things), or swimming! Just be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen, and make sure you know how to swim or wear a life preserver!

Scavenger Hunt

A really fun an inexpensive thing to do during the summer months is to have an outdoor scavenger hunt! Examples would be to create a list of items you have to locate and take a picture of as proof that you found it. The possibilities are truly endless with this and it can be a really fun game to play!

Beach

If you live near the ocean, go spend a day or a weekend at the beach! You can spend time tanning in the sun (use sunscreen), swimming in the ocean, playing games on the beach, or walking on the boardwalk!

Geocaching

Have you heard about this! It’s very similar to the scavenger hunt activity above, but this one is more like a treasure hunt! Geocaching is a website that you can create a free account with. Once you’ve done this, you can start searching for hidden items or treasures that others have hid in the area you live or the area you are planning to travel to. Check it out here: https://www.geocaching.com/play

Take Photos

You do not have to own a fancy camera to be able to take pictures! Summer is such a perfect season to take outdoor pictures because there’s lot of greenery, flowers in bloom, and plenty of outdoor activities to take pictures of.

Outdoor Sports

This is not just an activity for kids, this is an activity for adults too! Find a group of friends and a field and play soccer, kickball, ultimate Frisbee, or just a fun activity of your choosing!

Dog Park

If you have a pet this is a given! Take your loveable pooch outdoors and spend some time socializing with other dog owners while your dog has fun and gets exercise at the same time!

Picnic

Pack a meal (as elaborate or casual as you want) and take your significant other or a friend out on a picnic in the park! This is such a nice way to spend time together with those you care about!

Swimming

Find a local swimming pool, or a friend’s house, or even your own backyard (if you have a pool) and cool off in the pool! This is such a fun way to stay active, cool, and entertained.

Read

Spend some time reading this summer! You can get books free from the library and you can read anywhere! A bench in a park, a back porch, a couch, or at the beach, to name a few.

Education

If you are still in school and have the summer free, spend some time working on personal development! Take a free online course, or webinar. Watch informative Youtube videos, or listen to free podcasts!

I hope this list provided you with some fun, yet affordable ways to spend your summer! Let me know below how you will be spending your summer! I can’t wait to hear it! Also feel free to share and like on social media!